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She doesn’t know.
I’m torn about telling Valentina about what I’ve learned from Stiles. She needs to know the Feds are watching all of us but telling her feels too much like giving the enemy useful intel. Shit.
Ace’s deep voice interrupts my thoughts. “We have a lot to think about.”
I nod carefully. “Yeah, we do.” I need to be more cautious if and when I meet up with Valentina because not meeting up with her isn’t an option. As long as she’s nearby, I'm powerless to stay away.
“If we don't tell Arturo, then he might think something is wrong if we refuse to show up for our meetings,” I suggest.
“We can get more creative about how we meet,” Coop offers. “I don’t want to help that fucker out any more than we have to, but this isn’t just about LTC. It’s our asses too, and I have a kid I need to be around for.”
And then Banger speaks up. “If the boss man gets picked up on U.S. soil, he might decide we double-crossed him and reinstate the green light on Willow.” I get the fear in Banger’s voice because if LTC kills Willow, war is inevitable.
Ace locks his gaze on mine, and I know it’s my own guilty conscience that has me seeing ghosts where none exist. He doesn’t know about me and Valentina, but his eyes sear through me as if he knows something. But he just says, “You all right, man?”
I nod, hoping my poker face is good enough. “Yep. I’m good,” I say, hoping he doesn’t ask me anything else. But I know I have to be more careful now than ever before.
As we head back inside, I can’t shake the feeling that something is off. The visit by Agent Stiles threw me off balance. I need to talk to Valentina, but I can’t risk it. I don’t want to put her in danger, or worse, risk exposing our relationship to my brothers.
If we even have a relationship anymore.
My phone buzzes in my pocket and interrupts my thoughts. I quickly pull it out and see a message from Valentina.
Are you okay? the message reads.
I hesitate momentarily, but then I reply, I’m fine. Just had a visit from the Feds.
What did they want?
I pause before replying. I can’t risk saying too much. Especially in writing.
Routine stuff.
Be careful.
Always, I text back.
As I put my phone away, I feel guilty. Valentina deserves to know what’s going on, but I can’t risk it. Not when the Feds are watching us.
I take a seat at the bar inside the clubhouse and order a drink, trying to calm my nerves. Ace joins me, and we sit in silence for a few minutes, lost in our own thoughts.
“We’ll figure it out,” he says finally.
I nod. “Yeah, we will.”
I take a sip of my drink and wonder if we’re in over our heads. Rojas and his sons are dangerous men, and we’re playing a dangerous game by getting involved with them.
But there’s no going back now. And as long as Valentina is involved, I'll do whatever it takes to keep her—and my brothers—safe.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Valentina
I pick up the burner phone just as a text comes in from the man on my mind. I smile as I read the message.
Are you alone?
Yes. I reply.
Go to the back entrance of the salon on 3rd. I’ll send an Uber.
Sounds like fun. What time?
15 min. I can’t wait to see you.
My body catches on fire at his words. My mind conjures up the memories of our last encounter in that dirty motel. How a place so cheap and borderline filthy can be the site of one of the hottest encounters of my life?
I spring into action and look down at the little black dress I’m wearing. It’s not right, not for an easy getaway. I slip out of the dress and smile at the lingerie underneath, black lace shot through with red silk. It’s perfect, and Jake will ravish me when he sees me. But I have to be careful. Smart.
I put on my gym clothes and after shoving more clothes into a gym bag, I head out of the hotel room.
Santiago’s voice stalls my progress. “Where are you going?” Damn him.
I turn slowly and look down at my sneakers and workout attire. “You can’t figure it out on your own?” I laugh at his pissed-off expression. “I’m going to make an appointment at the salon down the street and then get in a workout. Care to join me?”
He crosses his arms and glares at me like he’s my boss.
“Whatever. Meet me at the gym if you must. I’ll be there in five minutes but change your clothes. I won’t have you scaring away everyone else by standing around and staring in that stupid suit.”
He doesn’t budge, and I fist my hands at my side.
